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How should a leader view and exercise power?

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How should a leader view and exercise power?

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 La-Donia Alford-Jefferies" How should a leader view and exercise power?'

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 La-Donia Alford-Jefferies" How should a leader view and exercise power?'

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In Leadership: Theory and Practice (Eighth Edition) by Peter G. Northouse, power is defined as the capacity or potential to influence others to achieve goals. Leaders' views and exercises of power vary depending on their leadership style and context, but key ideas from the text emphasize ethical responsibility, empowerment, and situational adaptability.

Leaders should exercise power with integrity and moral principles for the greater good. Instead of hoarding power, leaders should distribute it to enable followers to make decisions. For example, a manager can delegate delicate tasks to other employees they may manage. Leaders should foster trust through transparency and fairness. By understanding and exercising power responsibly, leaders can inspire trust, drive results, and create positive, lasting impacts in their organizations.

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Mittapalli _ How should a leader view and exercise power?

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Mittapalli _ How should a leader view and exercise power?

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A leader should view and exercise power with a sense of responsibility, empathy, and integrity. Power, in this context, is not just about control or influence but about the ability to guide, inspire, and support others toward a common goal. A leader should recognize that their position gives them the capacity to shape outcomes, but also that this power must be used ethically, with the well-being of those they lead in mind. Effective leaders understand that power is not a means to personal gain but a tool for creating positive change, fostering collaboration, and empowering others.

Exercising power effectively means striking a balance between authority and empathy. Leaders must be decisive and confident, especially in times of uncertainty, while also being approachable and open to feedback. Listening to diverse perspectives, valuing input from all levels, and being willing to adapt to new information fosters trust and respect. Power should be used to uplift and enable others, not to suppress or intimidate. By demonstrating humility, being accountable for decisions, and using power for the collective good, a leader earns the trust of their team and inspires loyalty.

Ultimately, a leader’s power should be exercised in a way that cultivates a positive environment, promotes fairness, and encourages growth. A leader who is focused on service—putting the needs of the team, organization, or community ahead of their own—will exercise power in a way that builds lasting relationships and creates sustainable success. The most effective leaders understand that true power comes not from domination, but from empowering others to reach their potential.

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Sara Beth Veazie- "How should a leader view and exercise power?"

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Sara Beth Veazie- "How should a leader view and exercise power?"

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Leaders should view their power with responsibility, purpose, and with a servant's heart. Leaders are typically placed in the position they are either due to skill, character, position, or a combination thereof. In my personal opinion, leaders hold the power to make or break a company, community, and circle of influence. As quoted in Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility". Leaders are placed in a position of trust. Those who fall under leadership are influenced by the choices and actions taken by those in authority. To be an effective leader, one must have both skill and character. Character is not something that is learned. According to our text, emergent leaders can be argued to be the "better" leaders because their empathy and guidance draw followers. On the other hand, assigned leaders have the skills, knowledge, and positional power to make a difference. I think that the best leaders are both compassionate, agreeable, decisive, humble, and willing to take the low place. As a teacher, I understand the power of both position-based and character-based leadership. My students listen to me because I am their teacher. They respect me and follow my guidance because of my character. I feel as though a leader should view their position of power as a gift to influence others in a positive way by practicing reverent and expert power. As John Maxwell says, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." Leaders must have the skills and knowledge to exercise their power. Leaders must do as they say through integrity and honesty. Finally, leaders must have personability and influence through service and earned trust to truly influence others. Leadership is a powerful thing and should not be taken lightly or in a skewed way. Leadership is a gift to influence those around you for the better. Leaders hold the power to show others and help others become all they can. I would like to close with a quote from Zig Ziglar that sums up leadership in one sentence: "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want."

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Aniyah Jeter - How should a leader view and exercise power?

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Aniyah Jeter - How should a leader view and exercise power?

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I believe a leader should view their power with humility and an open mind, avoiding a 'whatever I say goes' mentality. From my personal experience, that kind of approach rarely leads to positive outcomes for either the leader or the team. When leaders adopt a rigid, authoritarian stance, it often alienates their team, making people feel disengaged and unmotivated. Instead, a leader who is open to feedback fosters an environment where team members feel valued and empowered to share their perspectives. This kind of openness encourages collaboration, innovation, and trust.

Leaders are typically well-rounded individuals who embody a combination of qualities such as intelligence, integrity, confidence, determination, and sociability, as highlighted in this chapter. As Bill Bradley wisely put it, 'Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better.' Effective leaders help guide individuals to realize their fullest potential, motivating them to become the best version of themselves.

However, it's important to acknowledge that no one is perfect. A leader may have areas where they are still developing—whether it’s a specific skill or a personal trait—but that doesn’t diminish their ability to lead. Often, we improve upon our weaknesses naturally over time. Being aware of and working on these areas of growth is what makes a leader more relatable and approachable, not less qualified. The ability to recognize and work on our own imperfections actually strengthens leadership, fostering an atmosphere of continuous learning and growth.

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Leadership is a multifaceted concept, and scholars agree that there is no universally accepted definition. However, a reoccurring theme across various interpretations is the ability to influence others. Leadership can be regarded as an art form, and I firmly believe it should be appreciated as such. An effective leader possesses the capacity to connect with individuals on both intellectual and emotional levels, recognizing that their power is fundamentally the ability to influence others. This influence may manifest itself in different ways, as leaders with varying intentions have diverse ways of wielding their power. A great leader is shaped by their experiences as a follower, which equips them with the knowledge and insight necessary to guide others toward achieving personal and collective goals. Integrity, positive intentions, and a genuine concern for the well-being of others are fundamental qualities of a commendable leader. Leaders who exercise sustainable power embody compassion, empathy, confidence, and dependability. Additionally, an effective leader understands what motivates their audience and leverages that understanding to inspire growth through encouragement and support. In a world where some leaders misuse their power to exploit others and incite fear or anger, it is important to reflect on the qualities we value in leadership. By uplifting leaders who prioritize ethical behavior, empathy, and constructive influence, we can shape a future guided by the principles of integrity and empowerment.

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Brian Mullins-How should a leader view and exercise power?

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Brian Mullins-How should a leader view and exercise power?

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A leader must view power as a responsibility to serve others while inspiring growth and driving positive change rather than as a tool for personal gain. Effective leadership should be grounded in the principle that power exists to empower others rather than to dominate them. When a leader demonstrates leading their followers with a positive influence, ensuring accountability at all levels, and actively creating opportunities within the workforce, a leader will effectively elevate the morale of their team while solidifying their legitimate power. An exceptional leader clearly understands the importance of demonstrating care for their subordinates while recognizing that everyone has unique feelings. They create an environment to speak up about any issues that may arise. Additionally, they actively learn the traits of those they guide, ensuring effective and meaningful leadership. I believe a true leader seeks enduring truths that are constant and unchanging. This foundation enables a team to excel in problem-solving and fosters rational thinking. A leader must possess a strong voice to keep their team engaged and to demonstrate exceptional leadership. By creating a safe learning and work environment, a leader allows team members to become the best versions of themselves, leading to a commitment of 100% effort in all tasks.

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L. Jones -How should leaders view and exercise power?

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L. Jones -How should leaders view and exercise power?

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Leaders should exercise their power as if they are under the direction of their leadership. As a leader, I strive to create a path that I would be proud of and willing to follow myself. When considering how power should be viewed, I reflect on the various components of leadership, including Trait Leadership, Emerging Leadership, and Assigned Leadership. The perception and execution of leadership vary depending on its style. Typically, assigned leaders operate more authoritarian, while emerging leaders develop their influence over time, earning leadership through experiences and recognition. I strongly believe that leadership should never be wielded as a tool for condescension or used to belittle followers. Instead, it should serve as a guide, fostering collaboration and progress. As someone actively involved in campus leadership and student organizations, I have learned that the most effective leaders exhibit empathy, organization, and a genuine commitment to those they serve. True leadership is not just about authority—it is about cultivating an environment where others feel supported and empowered to succeed.

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In the eyes of a leader, power is a unique and effectual tool that should be wielded with caution. Power is used to influence others because of a collective desire for the power a leader possesses, or the structure, outcomes, and benefits that their power brings. If a leader is not careful, the power that hangs in the balance between leaders and followers can cause them to engage in negative behaviors that are not true to themselves or their leadership style. As stated in The End of Leadership (Kellerman) and Leadership: Theory and Practice (Northouse), the technological shift of the twenty-first century has demanded more from leaders due to the role that information plays in establishing oneself as legitimate or a true leader. When examining the social media fitness industry for example, being a leader or “influencer” as they are dubbed is not enough. One must consistently reinforce their referent and expert power to maintain their influence over others. This is demanded not only by their follower base (whose engagement impacts analytics that dictate how much one gets paid), but also by the behind the scenes companies that rely on these industry figureheads to promote a product or service. With that being said, power should be used not just to achieve one’s personal goals, but the overall goals of oneself and their followers. Power should also be acknowledged as something that can be fleeting, depending on its origins (personal vs. professional power, etc). Leaders should utilize their power to promote positive change, and exercise it for the greater good. To continue with my previous example, successful leaders in the fitness industry have a responsibility to be honest and ethical in their consumer interactions. For instance, an influencer who has undergone plastic surgery to achieve a particular look should not promote unhealthy eating habits or exercises they did not subject themselves to in order to profit off of their followers’ reactions and interactions to such content. The lasting change this would cause would be negative, self-serving, and morally incorrect. The exposure of such a moral failing would put power in the hands of followers to hold leaders in the space accountable for their actions. In short, leaders should acknowledge how their global impact and influence can be furthered by the power that they possess at a given time, and analyze how the greater good can be achieved by such power.